The Forgotten Histories of the First Thanksgiving

Date: Sunday, April 19
Time: 12pm-5:30pm
Location: 501 N Oregon

Join us in learning about some of the history of our area while enjoying various activities. We will have performances, educational information, activities, food, displays, and fun. Here is a sneak peek into some of what we will have:

Activities

Magoffin Home will be providing hands-on activities of brick making and corn husk doll making.

Food

Our local Bodega Loya, who come from generations of local farmers, will have produce available for purchase. We will also have some goodies from the local Café Piro who create seasonal cuisine through the traditions of their Piro ancestors.
Come and see what other goodies you can enjoy at the event!
Everything is free except for grocery purchases and anything the vendors may be selling.
Everything is while supplies lasts.

Background of El Paso’s First Thanksgiving

El Paso’s First Thanksgiving was April 30, 1958 (one of the earliest in North America). On that day a group of Indigenous peoples from the Manso Tribe came upon an exhausted and sun beaten group of travelers resting near a small stream. The weary group was led by Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate. The Manso tribe guided the Spanish conquistador to the vast river. Later both groups came together and celebrated and feasted together on the fish and game introduced by the Manso Tribe, and the livestock the Spanish conquistador brought with them.
In the words of Cruz Camargo-Acosta, “We never have, nor will ever ignore their voices, and so, we do not celebrate this day. We do acknowledge the immensity of this impact on this region, the American Southwest. And we recognize and acknowledge that the undeniable (UNK) that brought us all here today and we appreciate having new brothers and sisters of all races. Sharing this desert, learning from each other, and educating our children. We embrace our mutual struggles at achieving to equality of all people in this country

In that spirit we agreed to attend today to be part of this ceremony to be with our fellow community members from this valley and from the El Paso area, who are our comrades in appreciating our rich and varied history. We also feel it was our obligation and privilege to serve as good ambassadors for the El Paso Nation Valley and welcome all visitors among us today. So, we may not all agree in all issues, and our perspective of the past are as varied as our names and the shade of our skin. We can agree on the beauty of our cultures, on the goal of equality for all aspects of our community. We can agree that all voices, all beings, and all perspectives, deserve to be here and we can agree about the great fortunes and lessons we have learned from this wonderful desert we call home.”

- Quote transcribed from: 2010 First Thanksgiving Re-enactment Proclamation by Manso Tribe representative Cruz Camargo-Acosta from DVD Celebration of Cultures: Manso Tribe, Piro Tribe, Lipan Apache Tribe

This event marks the early interactions between European settlers and Native Americans long before the more widely known Thanksgiving of 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts and marked the beginning of Spanish Colonialization in the American Southwest. Oñate read a declaration, La Toma, or “The Taking,” (La Toma – “The land drained by the river to be the possession of King Phillip II of Spain.”) claiming the land for the Spanish crown. It also marks the beginnings of the rich cultural heritage forged between different civilizations that became El Paso.
Spanish conquistador Don Juan de Oñate is credited for naming the Rio Grande Valley region as the “El Paso del Rio del Norte,” or (the pass of the river of the North.) His expedition of 1598 brought more than two centuries of Spanish rule to the El Paso valley.
On April 23, 1990, an official document was drawn up by the Texas House of Representatives declaring this feast an official holiday.

Also see on the Portal to Texas History:
84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, House Bill 3868, Chapter 445

The modern event, first observed in April 1989, commemorates a day of thanksgiving. This year we have informational displays that highlight what we know of the Tanpachoas (Manso) and other Indigenous of the area.

Schedule & Map of Events

-coming soon-

Parking